The GRIP

Elderly Griffin man killed in Thursday morning wreck

January 5, 2017 by Sheila Mathews 5 Comments

STAFF REPORT ::: According to a press release issued by Sheriff Darrell Dix, at 8:57 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, deputies with the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office along with the Griffin Post of the Georgia State Patrol responded to a report of a traffic crash involving a tractor-trailer and pickup truck at the North Expressway and Birdie Road. […]

Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Birdie Road, Coroner Sonny Foster, Griffin, North Expressway, spalding county, Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix, Spalding County Sheriff's Office, William Chandler, wreck

Operation Jail Storm nets contraband in Spalding County Detention Facility

January 5, 2017 by Sheila Mathews 1 Comment

STAFF REPORT ::: According to a press release issued by Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix, personnel from his office, the Griffin Police Department and the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday, Jan. 4, conducted a search of the Spalding County Detention Facility. This joint exercise – named Operation Jail Storm – was conducted to locate […]

Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Chief Mike Yates, Clayton County Sheriff's Office, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, Operation Jail Storm, Sheriff Darrell Dix, Sheriff Victor Hill, spalding county, Spalding County Sheriff's Office

Federal racial discrimination lawsuit against city of Griffin, City Manager Kenny Smith closed

January 3, 2017 by Sheila Mathews Leave a Comment

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: A federal racial discrimination law suit filed Jan. 9, 2015, by Dwayne Jones and Terry Brock against the city of Griffin and Griffin City Manager Kenny Smith is under appeal after a summary judgment was issued after the court determined the plaintiffs “failed to establish a genuine issue of material fact […]

Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: City Manager Kenny Smith, Dwayne Jones, EEOC, federal racial disrimination lawsuit, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, restructuring, spalding county, Terry Brock, Title VII

David Gibson accuser subject of new SCSO IA case

December 22, 2016 by Sheila Mathews 1 Comment

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Through an Open Records request, The GRIP has obtained the final report of a Spalding County Sheriff’s Office Internal Affairs investigation that resulted from a formal complaint involving numerous allegations of wrongdoing – including sexual harassment – filed against Deputy Jessica Kelley by Deputy Catherine Lewis. In turn, Kelley filed a […]

Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: David Gibson, Deputy Catherine Lewis, Deputy Jessica Kelley, EEOC, federal lawsuit, Griffin, sexual harassment, Sheriff Wendell Beam, spalding county, Spalding County Sheriff's Office

Woman reportedly followed home, badly beaten during robbery attempt

December 22, 2016 by Sheila Mathews Leave a Comment

STAFF REPORT ::: The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an alleged strong arm robbery at a Magnolia Drive residence that was reported Wednesday night. According to the report filed by SCSO Deputy Nick Bruce, the victim, Shirley Newman, was assaulted and injured during the incident. “Upon my arrival I met with Shirley Newman. She […]

Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: assault, crime, Deputy Nick Bruce, Griffin, Shirley Newman, spalding county, Spalding County Sheriff's Offic, Spalding County Sheriff's Office, Spalding Regional Hospital, strong arm robbery

Discipline your mind to destroy those thoughts not from God

December 15, 2016 by Sheila Mathews 3 Comments

DUSTY TAKLE – RELIGION COLUMNIST ::: I have moments where I worry just like you. I let my thoughts run wild. I don’t discipline them, and before I know it, I find myself awake in the middle of the night doing the exact opposite of what I tell other people to do. Anxiety fills me. Fear […]

Filed Under: Lifestyles, Religion Tagged With: arguments, discipline, Dusty Takle, faith, Griffin, mercy, religion, spalding county

Will wonders never cease?

December 15, 2016 by Sheila Mathews Leave a Comment

DR. BOB HAYDEN ::: First, to answer my question, I hope not. They have not yet. I see “wonders” almost every day in my practice. A “wonder” for me is when someone gets well, or perhaps better, against the odds. Seeing this firsthand in a health care environment is like having a toy for which […]

Filed Under: Health, Lifestyles Tagged With: chiropractic, Dr. Bob Hayden, Griffin, health, spalding county, Wellness

Griffin Fire-Rescue’s Annual Toy Round-Up now underway

December 15, 2016 by Sheila Mathews Leave a Comment

SUBMITTED ::: Griffin Fire-Rescue’s Annual Toy Round-Up has gotten off to a great start. Hundreds of toys have already been collected, however more toys are needed for the drive that ends Dec. 20. The toys will be divided between the local Department of Family and Children Services (DFACS) and the Salvation Army, which will distribute […]

Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Annual Toy Round-Up, charity, Department of Family and Children Services, Griffin, Griffin Fire-Rescue, spalding county

Police: Wells Fargo locked down following threat of violence

December 14, 2016 by Sheila Mathews Leave a Comment

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Wells Fargo located at 1506 Georgia Highway 16 closed early Wednesday following a threat of violence. According to a law enforcement source, a man described as the former significant other of a female Wells Fargo employee phoned in the threat, stating he intended to shoot up the bank. According to […]

Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: crime, domestic violence, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, spalding county, threat, violence, Wells Fargo

GBI investigating Henry County officer involved shooting

December 13, 2016 by Sheila Mathews 2 Comments

STAFF REPORT ::: At approximately 9:37 a.m. on Dec. 13, Henry County Police officers responded to the area of 26 E. Main St., Hampton, to assist Hampton officers on a domestic dispute between a male and female. The incident occurred in the street behind the business. Upon our officer’s arrival to the scene, the male […]

Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Hampton Police Department, Henry County, Henry County Police Department, officer involved shooting

Spalding High student arrested for having loaded firearm at school

November 29, 2016 by Sheila Mathews 1 Comment

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: A Spalding High School student was on Monday afternoon arrested for possessing a firearm on school grounds. According to the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office incident report, 17-year-old Elisha Maurice Goggins was contacted by Deputy Richard Mangham and Assistant Principal Corenza Barnes regarding a complaint received Friday, Nov. 18, alleging Goggins was […]

Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: crime, Elisha Maurice Goggins, Griffin, Griffin Spalding County School System, spalding county, Spalding County Sheriff's Office, Spalding High School

Responses to questions in Boynton investigation become heated

November 21, 2016 by Sheila Mathews Leave a Comment

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The September release of the GBI case file on its Jessica Boynton investigation raised questions as multiple inconsistencies were revealed. Efforts to obtain answers to those questions have been stymied by the refusal to respond to questions about those inconsistencies. The GRIP first interviewed Griffin Police Department Chief Mike Yates in […]

Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: ASAC Chris DeMarco, Chief Mike Yates, GBI Office of Professional Standards, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, Jessica Boynton, Officer Matthew Boynton, spalding county, The GRIP

Griffin PD Officer Matthew Boynton subject of falsified criminal allegation

November 21, 2016 by Sheila Mathews 5 Comments

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: From information obtained through Open Records requests, The GRIP has learned that Courtney Callaway was terminated from her employment with Spalding E911 after filing what was determined to be a false criminal allegation against her former boyfriend, Griffin Police Department Officer Matthew Boynton. A formal complaint alleging of terroristic threats, stalking […]

Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Cortney Callaway, false report, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, Officer Matthew Boynton, spalding county, Spalding E911

ALERT: Western Spalding County fire jumps Shoal Creek; is now approaching homes

November 21, 2016 by Sheila Mathews 1 Comment

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: A large fire burning in the western portion of Spalding County has now jumped Shoal Creek and is approaching a residential area. According to Spalding County Assistant County Manager Eric Mosley, personnel of the Spalding County Fire Department and the Georgia Forestry Commission are actively working to extinguish the fire. “What’s […]

Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Georgia Forestry Commission, Griffin, hay baler, hayfield fire, spalding county, Spalding County Fire Department

Learn how to shift to love you now

November 17, 2016 by Sheila Mathews Leave a Comment

DUSTY GOSS TAKLE ::: I have found recently struggling to enjoy this season of busy schedules. Because it was really easy to enjoy every moment there, I’ve thought about a recent vacation to Maine and said, “Can we just go back to Maine where we eat six meals a day and linger at every beautiful […]

Filed Under: Religion Tagged With: Dusty Goss Takle, Encouragement, Hope, Inspiration, Love, religion